Villa Beaumont was gutted by fire three years ago before Dandara acquired the property.

Planning insisted that the Victorian house in Rue de Craslin be restored as part of the redevelopment of the former L’Hermitage Hotel site.

Dandara are building a complex of sheltered apartments, retirement cottages and flats and a residential care home.

Architect Ian McDonald of Axis Mason said that the intention was to build an exact replica, using as much of the existing fabric as could be salvaged.